Amir and Hassan are the two main characters in The Kite Runner who possess different kinds of knowledge despite having similar upbringings. Amir receives a formal education but struggles with uncertainty and seeking his father's approval, while Hassan is illiterate but possesses strong critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence. Ultimately, Hassan demonstrates wisdom in applying his knowledge practically and making decisions for the benefit of others, whereas Amir's knowledge is used to entertain his ego and leads to regret through his weakness in critical thinking and handling emotions. The differences in how each character acquires and applies knowledge impacts their levels of well-being.

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Kite Runner Comparative Essay
The true purpose of knowledge is to help people become polite and increase wisdom
while in most cases people fail to realize the true purpose of knowledge and develop ego with
acquired knowledge instead. Amir and Hassan, the two protagonists of the novel Kite
Runner, possess different kinds of knowledge while their living conditions are almost same in
most cases, which creates a common ground of compare them. Amir had the opportunity to
acquire education in his childhood, but he suffered from confusion and uncertainty of mind.
On the other hand, Hassan was confident and self-educated, and he was able to enjoy his life.
Both Amir and Hassan differ in many ways of life. They hold different attitudes
towards life and their knowledge acquisition and processing it to useful wisdom are distinct.
Amir has been seeking knowledge from outside; he accepts noncritical information only. Due
to his social status, he could avail formal education. His best talent is to memorize
information; using that ability, he competes in “Battle of the Poems” and pleases his ego. But
unfortunately, that natural skill does not win Baba's favor: “I could recite dozens of verses
from Khayyam, Hafez, or Rumi's famous _Masnawi_. One time, I took on the whole class
and won. I told Baba about it later that night, but he just nodded, muttered, "Good." (Hosseini
15). Thus, a matter proud led him to the way of frustration; he realizes that memorization and
proper use of knowledge are not the same.
In contrast, Hassan is illiterate, but he can think straight– he is a trait to listen
carefully, observe thoroughly, and analyze the information he acquires critically. He can tell
the possible location of the kite by merely observing weather conditions; his skills and

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attitudes are not only amazing and astonishing but also matter of jealousy for Amir; his
problem-solving skills create hatred in Amir's mind: “I read him poems and stories,
sometimes riddles - though I stopped reading those when I saw he was far better at solving
them than I was” (21). However, sometimes Hassan could gather appreciation from his
friend, Amir for his skills and critical thinking ability.
Amir is weak at where Hassan is strong- critical thinking ability. He cannot
distinguish between useful and valueless knowledge, cannot differentiate between truth and
lie and that is why he always need a mentor (his Baba) to help him process his knowledge
that he acquires from his teachers, environment, and books. Also because of his lack of
experience and noncritical thinking, he simplifies life and cannot accept the fact that
contradictory knowledge may exist. He does not understand that facts may be manipulative,
that there may be more than one truth. He is a disappointment to his Baba for such poor
understanding of life and naivetés toward religion lessons: "I see you've confused what you're
learning in school with actual education," he said in his thick voice” (12). As we see, father is
not happy with Amir's style of studying.
In opposite, Hassan can make his judgment and make decisions, even when it requires
some bravery. He is able politely to express his thoughts and argue in a very soft form (as he
respects his master) after Amir presents to his friend his first story, a bit sophisticated and
unrealistic: “-if I may ask, why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to feel
sad to shed tears? Couldn't he have just smelled an onion? -I was stunned. That particular
point, so obvious it was utterly stupid, hadn't even occurred to me” (27). While good
evaluation of story partly has roots in servant’s politeness, that remark shows how Amir is
shocked with his servant’s smartness.
Secondly, both of them has the different usage of their knowledge as they have
different psychological features. Amir’s literacy in his childhood gives his friends

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entertainment but mostly it serves as Amir's ego and drives him away from real knowledge.
Amir confesses: “That was how I escaped my father's aloofness, in my dead mother’s books”
(15). So his literacy mostly comforts only him, in particular, by letting him escape to the
world of fantasy and fiction, and does not lead to any positive action for others (like the wish
to teach, for example).
In contrast, Hassan is more practical oriented, and his skills apply to common needs,
for serving his master. Sometimes he should think for both of them and make solutions to
Amir’s problems. He is meticulously perfect in making decisions appropriate and suitable to
the circumstances, and he can use his knowledge and skills greatly: "Please leave us alone,
Agha," Hassan said in a flat tone. He had referred to Assef as "Agha," and I wondered briefly
what it must be like to live with such an ingrained sense of one's place in a hierarchy” (34).
So he tried to formulate questions diplomatically first and only then possibly use force, his art
skill for self-defense.
As Amir is an emotionally complicated character, he uses his literacy for self-
affirmation through the humiliation of his illiterate friend: “My favorite part of reading to
Hassan was when we came across a big word that he didn't know. I'd tease him, expose his
ignorance” (22). But the problem is that to entertain his ego in short-term, the cost he has to
pay is to fall into long-term guilty feelings and suffer from emotional problems: “I would
always feel guilty about it later. So I'd try to make up for it by giving him one of my old
shirts or a broken toy. I would tell myself that was amends enough for a harmless prank”
(22). So literacy void of smartness and lack of skills to apply it to practical life is making
Amir unhappy.
In contrast, all Hassan's knowledge and skills have been finding their usage in his life.
He has the most suitable idea of service and the clear organization of actions, and, therefore,
no emotional problems about the usage of skills, as he applies them exactly how he should:

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“He stopped, turned. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "For you a thousand times
over!" he said. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner” (55). To
be useful for others, his way of the realization of his knowledge and skills is his potential that
has the power to make him happy and psychologically healthy.
Finally, both of the boys have different levels of intelligence and wisdom, what affect
their well-being much more than literacy. Amir is not aware how to deal with his emotions at
all and constantly do inappropriate things that make him regret later. He regrets after joking
on Hassan, after trick with money and watch, feel ashamed of his betrayal almost all his life:
“In the case of he wished, he hadn't started this conversation” (44). – That is not the only case
when Amir wants to take his actions back. He is too reactive and let emotions rule over him.
In opposite to Amir’s emotionality, Hassan knows how to behave himself with people
with honor. As well Hassan knows how to use force when it is needed, when to make a step
back and when to bravely react: “Hassan shrugged. To an outsider, he didn't look scared. But
Hassan's face was my earliest memory, and I knew all of its subtle nuances, knew each and
every twitch and flicker that ever rippled across it. And I saw that he was scared. He was
scared plenty” (34). That case shows perfect ability to control emotions for family defense
from aliens, to use aggression when it needs.
Amir’s problem is that he is using tricks and shortcuts instead of proper open and
honest action, as he is weak and mild hearted. Often he behaves passively or senselessly: "Hit
me back!" I spat. "Hit me back, goddamn you!" I wished he would. I wished he'd give me the
punishment I craved, so maybe I'd finally sleep at night” (78). Instead of an open
conversation about the problem with Hassan, for which he is too coward, he behaves in a
strange way.
Hassan does not search for easy ways for conflict decision. He knows how to
negotiate when it is possible. In answer to rude question checking his loyalty, he answers the

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way, what does not hurt, but place Amir in a ticklish situation: "If you asked, I would, but I
wonder," he added. "Would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha" (44)? So he deals
with possible conflict situation in a smart, polite and honest way. In another conflict with
Amir: “Then Hassan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked toward me. He opened it and
crushed it against his forehead. "There," he croaked, red dripping down his face like blood.
"Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?" He Turned around and started down the hill” (78).
He understand clearly, where the family is and where are aliens and feel no need to be
aggressive if there are no real danger, as in this case, and in that is his wisdom.
In total, we can say that literacy is not the same as smartness or wisdom, and we see
that Amir is just literate but weak in critical thinking, emotional intelligence and ways of
usage his knowledge. At the same time, Hassan is smart or even wise, and it lead him to
healthy and balanced life without extra regrets.

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Work Cited
Hosseini Khaled. The Kite Runner. 2003 Web 25 Feb. 2016
<http://www.thehazeleyacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IB-English-The-
Kite-Runner-Full-Text.pdf>.